C&Z’s Second Birthday Party: a Recap

The party was held at L’Homme Tranquille in the 18th, and fifty of us managed to fit in the rather small room. It looked a little ambitious at first, and as guests were pouring in, apéritifs being frantically served, it seemed like we would have to start standing on tables or invading the kitchen (which I’m sure none of us would mind). But soon enough we sat down to eat, a little crowd migrated to the sidewalk — the weather was on our side — and it all became much more manageable.

About half of the guests were friends of mine — old friends or new friends I’ve made in two years of C&Z — the other half being readers (French, American, Canadian or British) whom I was delighted to meet and hope to see again. The party went delightfully well, good food, good wine (a Premières Côtes de Blaye), lively conversations, happy faces, budding friendships… I had a wonderful time.

For the menu we had chosen a few of our favorite dishes from the restaurant’s regular selection, which is a lovely medley of cosmopolitan influences. We started with liver and port terrine, a salad with goat cheese and fresh fruit, and Chilean empenadas with salsa. The main courses were a lamb and apricot tajine served with couscous, and carbonades made with Coreff (a beer from Brittany) and served with mashed potatoes. For dessert, the restaurant had prepared its signature fondant au chocolat, an apple crumble and a quetsche crumble, Pascale had brought fabulous mini-muffins, and I had (of course) made my Chocolate & Zucchini Cake!

I had organized a little raffle, and everyone was to bring a small gift, edible or not, homemade or store-bought (but for less than 5€). I was very pleased to see that everyone had participated with much care and enthusiasm, and after dessert we drew numbers and redistributed the presents. This was fun, and very well suited to the birthday party of a two-year-old, no?

Many thanks also to Cathy and Antoine at l’Homme Tranquille, for working with us to organize and pull this off!

Since I’m not much of an events photographer, I simply took sixpictureswithmycellphone. (If you’re on one of these and would rather not be, please let me know and I’ll remove it.)

Thank you so much for organising another excellent birthday party! The food was excellent, the atmosphere was as friendly and international as last year, and the present swap was an inspired suggestion. We’ll definitely go back to the Homme Tranquille again – that tajine was fantastic!

Thank you very much to whoever made the delicious chocolate truffles au fleur de sel (which Mike has agreed to share with me, not that he had much choice) and for the sweet and sour zucchini, which we’re looking forward to trying – very appropiate on both counts. What did everyone else go home with?

http://www.onenightband.it Emanuele

I am in the first picture! Ha!

Paz

Sounds and looks like a good time was had by all. Congrats on the 2nd birthday.

Best, Paz

http://deetsasdiningroom.blogspot.com/ Dining Deetsa

Sounds like it was a great birthday with lots of yummy food and great company. I raise my glass to you and wish for you for many more years of wonderful blogging!

Narelle

I am an Aussie who also lives in the 18th …and was out that night …having Pizza at the popular Pulcinella’s on rue Eugene Sue….can you tell me the address of L’Homme Tranquille…because my mouth is watering for the lamb dish mentioned!! Merci beaucoup!

http://sindark.blogspot.com Milan Ilnyckyj

Looks like a fun party. Happy birthday.

http://nawal2marmiton.free.fr Casseroles2Nawal

Hi Clotilde, Every thing was perfect. A lovely hostess, a very excellent menu and so nice friends : I had a wonderful time too :-) A bientôt. Nawal.

http://www.toomanychefs.com Meg

Wonderful party – I was honoured to be a part of it. And congratulations on two wonderful years of fantastic writing and exquisite photography!

http://tascadaelvira.blogspot.com/ Elvira

Have a great party!

http://CleopatrasKitten.com Julie

I just discovered Chocolate & Zucchini, and I can’t thank you enough for your devotion to it. I used to be a chef, and now am a writer. You feed my appetite for both good writing and good food!!

http://vinodea.blogspot.com/ Sara

Great menu choices, and what a perfect venue, looks like a grand time was had by all. Your a bette revent planner and photogrpaher then you think!

David

Thanks for a great party. There’s even a photo of me ! Of my best side (the back.. what everybody likes to see best).

victoria

God, those pictures make me miss Paris.

http://alithinks.typepad.com Alison

It was a real privilege to attend C&Z’s 2nd birthday party. Yes, the restaurant was crowded, but we seemed to fit once we all sat down to eat! I met some wonderful people there, ate some delicious food, and walked away with a very special raffle gift: your own pear jam (with cacao nibs! Yum!)

Thank you for organizing a wonderful evening of camaraderie.

bekbeka

Thanks Clotilde for organising the party & a good night out, and for posting the recipe for the carbonade – I`ve been requested to make it this weekend, so you have saved me from having to do some inspired (i.e. hit-or-miss) cooking. Also thank you to whoever made the confiture of apricots & orange peel that I received. It has a lovely sort of lemon curdness about it.

*sob* Another birthday party I’ve missed. Sadly, I don’t think my parents would send me to Paris TWICE this year, but I’ll be there soon so I can’t complain. I hope a good time was had by all!

jessi

you have somehow summed up my lifes essence in a single dessert- i had no idea that such a thing as a chocolate and zucchini cake existed, but feel the world is a much more promising place having found out. my friend introduced me to your site- we have just moved to paris from atlanta and live in the 18th, if you can pass along any great dining places, we would love it. good luck with the wonderful writing!

http://thehungryrose.blogspot.com Rose

It looks like it was a lovely party.

Reminds me of a wonderful summer stay in Paris over a year ago–dinner with friends every night–wonderful food and drink with great people to enjoy it with. Makes me quite nostalgic.

Congratulations on two years of posting on your terrific food blog and good luck with the book!

Kathy Douthit

Hello,

I LOVE your website…and so I hate to contradict you. The subject is polenta. I don’t know when it became such an esoteric exotic dish, but like so many peasant foods that have become the rage, it has been exagerrated out of proportion. IT IS CORNMEAL !!! We have had it all my life in the United States. I was a personal chef in So. California, and it’s true that I have spent time since I’ve lived in France trying to locate specific ingredients (real Mexican are the hardest !) However……polenta (cornmeal quoi !) I have been able to find for some time now. I think that at Leader Price (the low cost markets owned by Casino) they even have it in two grinds. What I would really like to find here is hominy grits and poblano chilis….and the list goes on. What I love to do is improvise and combine element from similar cuisines (Mexican-Italian, for instance).

I want to congratulate you on your blog…that I find absolutely fabulous! You are an inspired cook. I wish I was in Paris to see all the places and things you describe. I am here in “la France profonde”……and very happy…..but it’s fun to come up to Paris from time to time and see the incredible variety !!

Thank you so much……..

http://www.carablack.com Cara

Thanks for the lovely evening Clotilde. Kudo’s to Antoine for the cuisine and his announcement that his wife’s expecting and he hopes his ‘son’ will continue the family run resto. So happy to meet C&Z posters especially the cheesecake girl and her artist boyfriend…how will you top this next year?

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About Clotilde

Clotilde Dusoulier is a French food writer based in Paris. Her focus is on fresh, colorful, and seasonal foods, making room for both wholesome, nourishing dishes and sweet treats.

An enthusiastic explorer of flavors and observer of culinary trends, she contributes to international food and travel magazines, and writes cookbooks and guidebooks. She lives in Montmartre with her boyfriend and their young son. Learn more »